Penn Badgley and Brittany Snow, stars of the 2006 high school comedy “John Tucker Must Die,” have revealed that they have not been contacted about reprising their roles for a potential sequel. This revelation came during an episode of Badgley’s podcast, “Podcrushed,” where the former co-stars discussed the rumors surrounding the sequel.
“Penn, I don’t know if you’ve had a call, but I’ve gotten no call,” Snow said when asked about the sequel. Badgley responded, “Yeah, I’ve had no call, no. I mean, it’s maybe possible like the superposition quantum physics, like everything is potentially within the realm of, like, maybe this apple will fall up, I actually can’t say with certainty.”
Badgley, who played a relatively minor role in the original film compared to Snow, Jesse Metcalfe, Arielle Kebbel, Sophia Bush, and Ashanti, expressed uncertainty about his involvement in a sequel. Snow, however, seemed more enthusiastic, stating, “I’m not doing it if you’re not doing it,” to which Badgley replied, “Never have I even thought of that as a potential thing. But I guess if there was a script, I would read it.”
The possibility of a sequel was first mentioned by Metcalfe, Kebbel, and Bush during a panel at Epic Cons Chicago in March. Metcalfe mentioned hearing rumors about the screenplay, describing it as “amazing,” though he had not read it yet. Kebbel, who contributed to the script, confirmed that it involved all the original cast members and hinted at a storyline where Metcalfe’s character, John Tucker, might undergo significant personal growth.
“I have been talking to Arielle about this for years because she was trying to get it off the ground, but I didn’t know what happened,” Snow said on the podcast. “And it kind of just, I was like, ‘Go forth with that.’ But so, that was the last I had heard of it, was that she was trying to make it happen. And so I guess she did? So, yeah, I will read whatever people [send me]. They’ve worked really hard.”
In an interview with E! News, Metcalfe elaborated on the screenplay, noting that it addresses similar themes from the original film but through a contemporary lens. He described the new script as more “conscientious” and “not quite as misogynistic” as the first one. “My character has a great arc,” he said. “John has a daughter, and, you know, you see how fearful he is that she’s gonna get John Tuckered.”
While the sequel has not yet been officially greenlit, Metcalfe remains hopeful that the “very funny” script will help the project find a studio and come to fruition. “Hopefully, that’ll push it over the finish line,” he said. “We’re in a Y2K moment right now, when nostalgia always sells. So, I’m optimistic that the movie will get made.”
The original “John Tucker Must Die,” directed by Betty Thomas and distributed by 20th Century Fox, followed three high school girls who discover they are all dating the same guy, John Tucker, and plot their revenge with the help of Snow’s character, Kate. The film, which also starred Ashanti and Sophia Bush, grossed $68.8 million globally after opening to $14.3 million at the box office in July 2006.
Despite the enthusiasm from some of the original cast members, Snow and Badgley’s comments suggest that any potential sequel is still in the early stages of development. Snow’s willingness to read the script and Badgley’s openness to considering the project if approached indicate that there may still be hope for fans of the original film.
As the entertainment industry continues to capitalize on nostalgia, the potential for a “John Tucker Must Die” sequel remains a topic of interest. Whether or not Snow and Badgley will ultimately reprise their roles, the buzz surrounding the project suggests that the story of John Tucker and his high school escapades still resonates with audiences today.
Source: People, E! News
